Autumn Delights

Hello there!

I hope you are all keeping warm and snug now the nights are drawing in. I'm finding the days are definitely getting much cooler and therefore the heating has well and truly been switched on in this house! Although generally I do try my best to look on the bright side of life, and we are still in Autumn, a season I love, I am not really what one would call a winter person. I get a bit gloomy and probably should invest in one of those seasonal affective disorder lights. If you have ever used one I would love to know how you found it. I do like the excitement of Christmas though and that does help me get through :) 

Talking of Christmas I was so tempted to pick up this oh so cute Chrismas decoration from John Lewis, I think I shall have to make a little trip back there! 

I think its so sweet!

I did pick up this little trio of mini vintage style suitcases however from my favourite Home Bargains, and a bargain indeed for only £6.99 for the three. Perfect for all those little bits and bobs.

I just love home Bargains for its quirky, shabby chic finds. With the seasonal changes, I'm getting a little out of sorts with my sleep for some reason, I love to spray my pillow with L'Occitane pillow mist just before bed and I was beginning to run out. A quick visit to my nearest L'Occitane store revealed that they had discontinued my favourite (boo) and replaced it (yay) with this newer updated version so I decided to give it a whirl.

It still has a relaxing scent, which contains the essential oils of lavender, bergamot, mandarin, sweet orange, and geranium, and it certainly has a calming effect once sprayed. I am finding however that it doesn't drift me off to sleep as much as my old version which contains the essential oils of lavender, tea tree and geranium.

I think it's the tea tree that really does it for me and once sprayed I literally fall into a lovely sleep. So, although I'm reasonably happy with the newer mist, and it is also perfect for using as a room spray, I shall definitely be searching out my now discontinued favorite. I must like a challenge!

I'll be treasuring and use very sparingly that tiny bit left at the bottom!

As mentioned above I am quite a fan of Autumn, November in particular. Family birthday's, our wedding anniversary, the seasonal change all evoke happy memories for me and who cannot resist a little kick of those crunchy autumn leaves. Not me thats for sure!

I was a bit unsure of those 'autumn' coloured tights...but I thought at least they coordinated well with the leaves ;) Something that also coordinates very well with the tights is this lovely jumper for Master P I found in Sainsburys (TU brand). I thought it perfect for these Autumnal days and I love the flying ducks on it, very retro.

We picked up some burnt orange trousers to match and some other clothing whilst there, I was really impressed with the boyswear.

And here's the fella, all dressed up in his Autumn attire, looking very dapper. I think if Sainsbo's ever require an 8 year old professional model (he actually is) you know where to look, he's becoming quite the fashionista!

One other enjoyment of Autumn nights is our hot chocolate drinking, with of course an extra sprinkling of mini marshmallows.

I'm getting productive and preparing for the daughters 13th (teenager at last) birthday disco. Oh my goodness, its going to be a busy one so have begun the preparations in earnest.

I do love party planning, and all that attention to detail. I really enjoy helping to make someone's special day a day to remember. An avenue if I'm honest I wish I'd pursued. In fact, perhaps there's still time to realise a little dream?

I've also been shabby chicing a bit. I was kindly gifted an amazing mirror (is actually an Ikea Hemnes one) via freecycle. This particular mirror had been on my wishlist for a while so I jumped for joy getting it for free, thank you kind lady :) It had already been painted but unfortunately not in a colour suited to my bedroom theme, so I promptly got the paint out.

Here's a sneak peek of the mirror before I got painting it. Its great, and a full length size, perfect for just casually leaning against the wall like an oversized photo frame.

I just need to do one last wax and it's done.

Back soon lovelies!

X

Time For A Catch Up!

Well hello there!! Here at Poppins HQ after somewhat of a busy summer, we are slowly getting back into the swing on things...

Whilst feeling slightly (note 'slightly') refreshed from a nice summer break, I thought it an apt time for a little bloggy catch up! I hope you've all had nice summery breaks. The weather has been quite kind to us hasn't it, especially kind as there was no holiday abroad for the Poppins. We've had lots of lovely days out though, trying to keep everyone happy as the children are get older certainly becomes more challenging ;)

I'm a really old fashioned girl, so walking along old Victorian piers, thinking of times gone by is my idea of a lovely time, luckily the children like it too, especially when laden up with two penny coins to spend in the slot machines. I found myself quite addicted to those machines I can tell you! I've also been getting back to the sewing - I've been forever packing then unpacking the sewing machine as the ever continuing work gets done on this home sweet home. Hopefully our plans include the finishing of my own little craft room. Can't wait! I loved making these wedding hearts for special couples soon to tie the knot.

 And talking of home sweet home - I so agree with this statement I read in a book.

Home should  in my opinion  rise away from consumerism, and indeed why I love to re use, recycle, give vintage items a new home and generally include things in my home that make me happy! My next shabby chic project soon to be started, is this pretty pine washstand.

 I was kindly offered it by my family, and if I'm honest, it was looking a little un loved. I can't wait to give it a new lease of life. One piece I really enjoyed giving a little makeover are these chest of drawers, they are so useful in size/shape for Miss. Poppins whose up in the attic bedroom, as they take up little floor space but nice and tall with 6 roomy drawers. I did remove the legs for this project as I wanted to put it right up into the eaves. I hope you like my finished look.

Here they are before I got going on them.

I used wallpaper for the drawers and there's actually a bit of a story to the wallpaper I used - I bought this discontinued Cath Kidston 'Paris Rose' wallpaper some years ago to decorate Miss. Poppins' bedroom - it was a 'fall in love at first sight' wallpaper ;) As I loved it so much I decided to get a spare roll for any eventualities, and the time came to dive in and get some repairs done in her room. Unfortunately as I unrolled it, I soon realised it also came with some sort of design fault. You can see here, the wallpaper should have a faint stripe running through, behind the rose detail.

     

About a 1/4 way through the roll however, the stripe in my 'spare for repairs' roll just disappears!  On the wallpaper I used for the drawers, you'll see there's no stripe at all running through the rose detail - after my initial "Oh no"!! - Thinking how am I going to repair areas of her original wallpaper, and which frankly is looking a little shabby in places, I decided actually, I guess I have my very own unique CK wallpaper, and so like this makeover, it shall hopefully be used for shabby chic projects. Of course the much needed repair work in areas of her original wallpaper up on the wall have been left undone as obviously the wallpaper doesn't match so that leaves me concerned as I just love the wallpaper - but it seems there's not one roll left in all the world :(

Here are the finished drawers in all their fine glory in Miss. Poppins room, looking in my opinion just delightful! I wanted to alternate the strips of wallpaper, she already has quite a flowery room as you can tell ;)  

I decided as she was coming up to starting secondary to give her bedroom a little summer makeover - luckily she loves it...for now, you know how fickle pre teens can be ;)

 As you can see, I still haven't come up with a solution for covering the round window in her room. In an ideal world I would love a custom made round wooden shutter - but looking at costs, have a feeling that's never going to happen! For now she has one of those paper decorations with the Ikea net curtain swept to the side. At least there is a velux blind on her other window that does create a little darkness. With her starting 'big' school, I created a little 'work area' - funny - she seems to prefer the sleeping/dressing/ areas to this one ;)

I lined the desk with a lovely sample wallpaper (from B&Q) - so if she needs a little break from the homework, she can do some colouring in to help relax the mind.

Over the summer we talked about this 'dip- dye' look that seems to be quite popular - I ummed and ahhed and ummed and ahhed some more. I compromised, as I didn't want anything too 'in your face' and definitely wanted her to have a natural sun kissed look. She loves it! I can't believe how quickly she's growing up - right in front of my very eyes. I also can't believe I started writing this blog when she was only 6 years old! So many times I think thats it, my bloggy days are coming to an end, and so many times I also think at the same time that actually, I am so happy to have this blog space to document special times of our lives - if anything as I'm getting older it feels more important to keep it up and update it more often with happy memories.

 I am so proud of the way she has confidently walked on in to a new chapter of her school life, with her knowing no one at her new secondary, it must be quite a challenging time. She has coped admirably, and although she's not been there long seems to have made some lovely friendships which as her Mum is reassuring. She's been referred to orthodontics's, so like I did when I was at school,  shall soon be going off to school with her braces, I've assured her its 'cool' these days to have them :) 

As for Master P, he's had another birthday, now 7 years old, and a junior at school. Loving life! 

Looking at him now and when he was born, all I feel is thanks and gratitude at how lucky we were to bring him home, born so very early and so very tiny.

I've also had a 'big' birthday. If I only talk about birthday's with no 0's in them I am fine ;) I was greeted with these beautifully wrapped gifts from the family :) 

All the family has certainly taken advantage of this gift I received from Mr Poppins. We're fast becoming apple addicts in this house ;)  

   I also received this beautiful crochet book from a lovely friend - I shall master crochet, I shall!

 I adore this cute CK bag and its cheery design - my mum knows me so well and thoroughly treated me with a lovely selection of birthday gifts.   

I had a lovely birthday, spent with loved ones - exactly how I like it :) This little man is still a joy to be around - the house has definitily felt more lived in having a dog around. He nortily has free run of the house so often ends up on the bed!   

  

He also seems rather partial to Miss. Poppins new Ikea pink rug!

As for being a shopaholic, yes, I'm still one of those, think I'm a lost cause on that one!

Hope you enjoyed my little catch up, I'll leave you with a teeny tiny summer project that seemed to be forever a work in progress - finally got it finished!   

Amazing what you can do with a pretty paper napkin or two!

X

Annie Sloan & A Little Bit Of Everything Else

Oh my ~ what a blogging break I've had! It can however be very therapeutic in my opinion to recharge the blogging batteries at times, and real life of course can often get in the way of this blogging lark. Also, I am a real fan of Instagram and have been spending lots of my spare time over there. So, what have I been up to. Well, mostly painting actually. I am really enjoying broadening my love of refurbishing old and pre-loved furniture. I seem to have developed a deep love affair with Annie Sloan paints and although it is certainly not a 'budget' paint, I just can't seem to get enough of it!

I've been quite safe up to now, having only used subtle colours from her range, blues, whites, creams, greys...I am however slowly venturing onto the more dramatic hue's and having found my own method of applying it (I mix it with the tiniest bit of water) it really has been a dream to use. I have even sold some pieces which has been great for confidence and my little piggy (to buy more paint) bank ;)

Here's a very small selection of pieces I've painted, all beforehand very much needing some TLC and a shiny new coat.

These pretty wooden magazine racks in pink and blue, are lined with summery wallpaper.

I really like the way this old telephone table has turned out.

 Cute 'distressed' kitchen stool, painted in my new love 'Provence.

I really like how a simple frame can be brought to life with a new coat of paint.

Having enjoyed painting with 'Provence', I decided to paint this intricate iron work garden set, I really love it!

I liked this Lloyd Loom set very much and knew I had to have it, even in its pre-loved state.

Both pieces were a little tatty around the edges so I have made a start painting the chair, choosing a subtle pink and have delved into my fabric stash to choose a fabric I am going to cover the original sprung seat with. I think it shall look very pretty when its all finished.

Here's a modern chair I have given the shabby chic look to, and with a new fabric covered seat.

I am nearly finished on the art deco dressing table that was a little shabby looking to begin with.

Quick snapshot whilst the paint is drying.

There's now always a piece ready to be given a new lease of life in the Poppins household, these are in the queue ready and waiting.

Urmmmm, I have four of these oak topped farmhouse tables to do!.

 I have am always wanting to be aware of new and various painting techniques and styles, so I went on an Annie Sloan painting workshop that was great fun.

We were all given a little wooden heart to paint in our own choice of colour, which was a nice touch and made for a lovely keepsake. I decided to go for it and practice using a more dramatic colour than I would normally do. I painted it white first and then sanded back in certain areas for a distressed look.

  
We were also given wooden boards to practice techniques and various ways to use the Annie Sloan paints and waxes.

I can't wait to try out some of new techniques at home on real life pieces of furniture, and am looking forward to finding out more about the advanced course. 

One day, during my blogging break I decided to sort through my vintage glasswear in readiness to sell, oh boy, I didn't realise how much I had collected over the years. It all looked very pretty displayed prettily on the table.

I'm still keeping crafty with my sewing, and have really enjoyed making little pretties for people. 

I've also become a big fan of making these little daisy brooches too, in various pretty fabrics, I think perfect to decorate spring and summer outfits.

A while ago I was set a crafty challenge courtesy of Abakhan I made a little skirt for Miss. Poppins with this adorable camper van fabric.

I couldn't resist personalising a little t-shirt for her too.

And here she is at the beach with Master Poppins wearing the said outfit, she loves it!

I try and do something crafty, even if only a teeny tiny something everyday, good for soul in my opinion, and whilst I was supposed to be spring cleaning I got a little distracted with a candle, some vintage sheet music and a little doily. Cute I thought.

I still have a big passion for second hand shops, even with their big price increases that make me grrrr a little bit, especially when a second hand item is priced at a figure more than it would have cost new. Anyway I have to pop in when walking past any. This vintage wedding dress caught my eye, Oh how I loved it!!

What else caught my eye, and the little Poppins whilst we were on a little walk was witnessing a beautiful and very magnificent starling dance. We were literally awestruck, if you've ever seen the starlings in action, you'll understand the magic we felt.

So, that's about it for now, a little round up of what we've been up to. Its a 'big' birthday for me in the summer, am trying not to think about it too much, although going for a vintage theme to my little garden party I'm organising, I think it may just be a fun old young day :))

X